Log groover



July 24, 1951 D. w. MERRILL LOG GROOVER Filed June 11, 1947 W mm E Q 2 E Inventor 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dennis W. Merrill D. W. MERRILL LOG GROOVER July 24, 1951 Flled June 11 1947 July 24', 1951 D. w. MERRILL LOG GROOVER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dennis W. Merrill Filed June 11, 1947 July 24, 1951 D. w. MERRILL LOG GROOVER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 11, 1947 Im/ent'or Dennis Merrill:

Patented July 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT j OFFICE LOG GROOVER, I Dennis W. Merrill, Albany, Greg. Application June 11, 1947, Serial N o. 753,831

This invention relates to improvements in log grooving apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved log grooving apparatus which will form spaced parallel longitudinally extending grooves along the diametrically opposed sides of logs.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved g grooving apparatus which will simultaneously cut spaced parallel longitudinally extending grooves along the diametrically opposite sides of logs for receiving chinking boards used for tying or securing adjacent boards or logs together when constructing log buildings and structures.

Afurther object of the invention is to groove peeled and seasoned logs or poles for use in building construction by precision machinery that will eliminate much hand labor in joining logs into wall construction and eliminate the problem of log taper so that a buildings level and plumb angles may be easily maintained in the process of construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a precision machine for grooving logs which will receive logs rolled from the storage 10g deck onto suitable rollers where they may be adjusted for endwise positioning if necessary, and from thence thelogs will be rolled onto lifting arm bunks where suitable blocks will convey each log to the center of the bunk by suitable power driven means, to be raised by a hydraulic jack until centered, after which toothed heads will engage the center points at the opposite ends of the log, and finally the log carriage upon which the log is supported will carry the log along the channel cutting saws or knives which would be spaced to cut the desired depth channel or channels on both the upper and lower sides lengthwise of the log.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved 10g grooving apparatus which will be highly efficient in operation, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and produce.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the log carriage with a log supported in position thereon;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the lift carriage rails and log carriage rails with a log supported between two log blocks, and showing the electric motor driven means for operating the same;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the improved log centering and lifting apparatus;

4 Claims. (01. 144-136) Figure 4 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 (Sheet 2) is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a top plan view partly broken away of one of the log blocks;

Figure 7 is a front elevation of the protractor used when changing the angular position of the logs in the blocks; a

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the log grooving cutters or saws;

' Figure 9 is an enlarged detail view of the drive gearing for operating the log blocks;

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view through several grooved logs showing the same connected together by chinking boards, and v V Figure 11 is a plan view of a log showing the spaced parallel longitudinal grooves formed in its surface.

Like characters of reference are used throughout the following specification and the accompanying drawings to designate corresponding parts.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided an elevated track comprising the rails I and I2, and. a lowertrack comprising the rails 3 and 4 extending parallel with said first mentioned elevated track and spaced slightly to the side thereof. The rails land 2 will be supported upon the heavy wood bolsters 5 and 6 (Fig. 4) while the rails 3 and 4 are supported upon the lighter wood bolsters 1 and 8. j

A log deck sis disposed along the lower track rails 3 and 4 in parallelrelation thereto, whereby the logs l0 which are to be grooved will be rolled from the log deck 9 onto suitable rollers H disposed at the inner ends of the two spaced lift carriage frames 12 which are mounted upon the supporting wheels l3 and M (Fig. 3) for longitudinal movement along the rails 3 and 4, there to be adjusted for endwise position if necessary.

From the rollers H, the logs l0 will be rolled onto the lifting arm bunks l5 (Fig. 4) supported on the outer ends "of'the bellcrank lifting arm l6. Each log bunk I5 is providedwith a screw l1 upon which a pair of centering blocks I81 and I9 are adjustably supported forinward oroutward movement as the hand operatingcrank 2t! secured to the screw ll is rotated in one direction or in the reverse direction. When the blocks I8 and 19 are adjusted to touch either side of the log ID while it rests upon the bunk IS, the log will be in horizontally centered position.

It will be understoodthat a second liftlcarriage (not shown) similar to the carriage l2 will be 3 provided and would be reversed in direction in order to face the end of the log it, also the carriage wheels and axles (not shown) would be reversed so the carriage would move sidewise at right angles to the log carriage tracks 3 and 4,

to ride on the rails 2| and 22 in order that the second carriage (not shown) may be pulled back a few inches after the log Ill has been raised to allow proper clearance for the log and log block.

Each lift carriage: [2 will support the spaced vertically extending supporting standards 23 and 24 between which the lift arm I6 is pivotally' mounted on the cross shaft 25.

turned, it will be accomplished by rotating the hand crank 55, which in turn will operate through the reduction gear train 55' to rotate the shaft 52- and the log Hi. When thelog is in the desired position, the ratchet hand brake applying lever 59 will be operated to set the brake shoe 58 against the brake drum 5?, thereby locking the several A hydraulic jack 26 is supported upon each carriage frame l2 and is connected by means 'of a hydraulic oil line or hose 21 with asupply .ofljo'il under pressure suitably connected therewith, but not being illustrated. The piston rbd-Zdbfthe jack 26 will be pivotally connected at 29 to. the

lifting arm 16. 1

A square edge shaft guide-.30 will besupported by the standards 3| 'mountediu on 'the "carria e l2, extending in a horizontal plane and slid'ably supporting the sleeveguide 32' to'which the upper and lower connecting bars 33 and'3'4 are pivotally connected. The connecting bars 34 will be pivotally attached at 351: the'ii'pper end "of the bellcrank lift arm 16.

The bellcran'kcentering arm 36will be disposed above and in vertical alignmentwith the lift arm 16, and will be pivotally'sup'ported upon the cross shaft 31 disposed between the inverted u-shaped frame '38 attached'by'the bolts 39 to the standard 24. .The inner end'of th'e centering arm 35 is pivotally connected at 45' with the end of the upper connectingfrod33. An adjustable contact member 4| is supported upon the lower side and at the end of the centering arm 36 for engagement with the upper surfaceof'the log l0. When the lifting arm l6 raises the log Ill to .apoint where the 'member l'l touches the topof the log, the log will becentered vertically and the log blocks'42 and 43 later to bedescribed, may be closed enough to engage each end of the log The log blocks 42 and 4'3'(Figs.' l and 2) are supported by the frames 44 (Figs. & and8) secured upon the log carriage generally'designat'ed by the reference'n'umeral dvconiposedof the longitudinally extending 'l beams 45 connected' together'by the spacingbars lliifor permitting sawdust to escape. An I-beam track comprising the spaced longitudinally extending I-be'ams 41 and 48' is disposed upon the log carriage 4 4 and supports the log blocks 42 and 43 through. frames '44 upon their upper flanges, beingsecuredby the flange members 49 and 50, while astrap iron strip (Fig. '8) provided for closing the space between the carriage frame I-beams.

Each g block 42' and 43 includes a shaft 52.

disposed longitudinally thereoffand is formed with'a toothed head '53 on its inner end, and a protractor 54 with indicatingpointer 55(Figs. 3, 6, land 8) on its outer end for determining the degree of rotation when the log [0 supported between theftoothed' edges 53 is rotated; A gear 54 is secured to theshaft 52 and is connected with the reduction gearing 55', which w'ill'be operated by'the hand crank wheel 56 for turning the log ill to the desired angle for cutting one 'or more grooves longitudinally in the log at any point or points in its circumference. A brake drum 5'! will be supported by the shaft 52' and willbe engaged by -the brake shoe 58. the same fbe;--

parts in fixed position.

The log carriage 44' is supported for longitudinalmovement upon the rails I and 2 by means of the series of wheels 6| which are flanged as. at

' 62 on their opposite edges to retain the same upon Said rails, said wheels being rotatably mounted upon the stub axles 63 supported below the logcarriage M.

The log blocks 42 and 83 are provided with threadednuts or bearings 64 formed as. parts of their frames '44, through which the alignedoperating threaded screws and 56 are rotatablyextended. The screws 55 and '66 are rotatably mounted in thebearings 67 and 68, and support the bevel gears 69 and ill on their adjacent inner ends. See Fig. 9. The gears 69 and i0 are-connected with the reduction gear ll which in turn are driven by 'a friction'wheel 12. .A slidable shaft [3 supporting friction pulleys 14-andl5 is driven through the gearing 76 (Figs. 2 and 4) by an electric motor El, and is controlled by an actuating bearing 18. The electric motor Tl andifriction pulleys and gearing are attached to and supported upon a platform "19 secured to the log carriage 44.

A cable 86 is attached to'an eye ill at one end of the log carriage a l and will extend over an idle pulley 82 at one end of the tracks I .and Z and will be connected with a cable drum (not shown) located midway of the tracks I' and 2, and from thence to a cable pulley (not shown at the other ends of'the tracks i and'2,'and back to connect with the eye 82 at the other end-of the log carriage 3 3. The cable drum would'be driven in any desired manner, as for example, by a reversible friction pulley arrangement (not shown) and controlled by a log carriage oper- I ating lever (also not shown) located midway of the length of the tracks-I and 2.

In Figure 8, there is illustrated a pair of upper and lower channelgrooving saws or knives-'83 and 8 for forming a single channel in each of the upper and lower edges of a log. Obviously,.if two'p'arallel grooves or channels were .tobecut in the logs, the second saw or .knife would be secured upon each saw supporting shaft 85 and 86, which are disposed at the near sideof the tracks 3 and t when viewedin'Figure 1 of the drawings, while the'lumber cutting. saws (not shown) would-be disposed on the far side ofthe tracks. A rotary saw El will be mounted-on a driven shaft 88' for cutting off slabs fromihelog It to provide a level surface on thelogsifrdesired, for" the purpose of a lath and plaster or-wallboard finish. Thesame'procedure would apply where the logs are used asjoists forfiocring. purposes. Also, the top sidcs of rafter poles wouldbe fiattenedparallel to the taper, this operation being completed, on the sawmill sideof the" log car,- riage M.

From the foregoing description, it will beapparent'that"when the logs'lii are\correetly.,.posi-.-

tioned and locked between the toothed heads 53 on the log blocks 42 and it, the lift carriage it would be rolled back out of the way, and the log carriage a l would be moved along the tracks i and 2 to carry the log i l between the channel cutting saws or knives t3 and which would be spaced to cut the desired depth channel on both the upper and lower sides longitudinally of the log ill. The channels may be out at any desired angle by merely rotating the log in the log blocks in the manner hereinbelore described.

Finally, the logs would be sorted into diameter and length classifications for each specific purpose that each classification is to be used, thus providing for all the necessary amount or a pan ticular classification to be run at one setting so that the machine would not have to be set up so often for log size adjustment.

While the preferred embodiment of the instant invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention thereto, as many minor changes in detail of construction may be resorted to without departure from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A log grooving apparatus comprising laterally spaced pairs of parallel track rails, a oi wheel supported log lift carriages movably mounted in opposed relation to each other on one pair of said rails, said carriages being adapted to support the opposite ends of a log, each of said carriages including a bellcranlr lever pivoted at its corner, a pair of log receiving centering blocks mounted on one leg of said lever, means :lor adjustably moving said centering blocks towards and away from each other, a toothed gripping member mounted on said carriage and adapted to engage an end of a log, means for pivoting said bellcrank lever to raise the log into a position so that an end thereof opposes said grip" ping member, means operatively connected to and cooperating with said bellcrank lever to hold the log in said position, means for urging said gripping member out of and into the end of the log, a second carriage including a grooving saw and mounted on the other pair of said rails, and means for moving said second carriage whereby said saw engages one side of the log to produce a longitudinal groove therein.

2. The combination of claim 1 and a means for adjustably rotating said gripping member through a predetermined angle.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said third-named means includes a shaft, a collar engagement with Number 6 slidable on said shaft, a link: terminally pivoted to said collar and to the other leg of said bell crank, a further bellcrank pivoted at its corner to carriage and disposed above said first bellcrank, an adjustable log contacting member carried by one leg of said further bellcrank, and a link terminally pivoted to said collar and to the other leg of said further bellcrank.

t. A log grooving apparatus comprising laterally spaced pairs of parallel traclr rails, a pair of wheel supported log lift carriages movably mounted in opposed relation to each other on one pair of said rails, said carriages being adapted to support the opposite ends or a log, each of said carriages including a bell crank lever pivoted at its corner and including log receiving jaws at the end of one of its legs, means for pivoting said bell cranlr lever to raise the log received on said jaws, a toothed grip member mounted on said carriage, means operatively connected to and cooperating with said bellcrank for vertically centering the log to be in alignment with said gripping member, means for urging said gripping member out of and into engagement with the end of the log, a second carriage including a grooving saw and mounted on the other pair of said rails, means for moving said second carriage whereby said saw engages one side of the log to produce a longitudinal groove therein, and means for adjustably rotating said gripping mem her through a predetermined angle, said lastnamed means including a shaft secured to said gripping member and rotatably journaled on said carriage, a crank wheel for rotating said shaft, an indicating device carried by said carriage ad jacent said crank wheel, and a brake for holding said shaft against rotation at a desired angle of rotation.

DENNIS W; MERRILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 11,568 Mellon Aug. 22, 185% 31,831 Snell Mar. 25, 1861 198,327 Winn Dec. 18, 1877 243,745 Wilson July 5, 1881 283,874; Engelmann Aug. 28, 1883 995,833 Wood June 20, 1911 1,456,912 Rush May 29, 1923 7 2,352,885 Bulrowsky July 4, 1944 2,441,925 Wege May 18, 1948 

